Features

The Merriam-Webster dictionary refers to meritocracy as a "system, organisation, or society in which people are chosen and moved into positions of success, power, and influence on the basis of their demonstrated abilities and merit". In public discourse, the promise of equality in terms of social mobility, opportunity, recognition and social justice embedded in merit is generally agreeable with people’s basic moral understandings; in recent times, widening social inequality (perceived or otherwise) in Singapore has renewed calls for a rethink of meritocracy.

We speak to Methodists from the Arts sector on how they were led to their careers and discovered their God-given gifts.

At the National Day Rally this year, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the Government’s intention to repeal Section 377A of the Penal Code (“377A”) and decriminalise sex between men. PM Lee also announced that the Government would protect the definition of marriage between a man and a woman from being challenged constitutionally in the courts and would amend the Constitution in order to protect it.

I did not expect to receive an overseas education, much less to serve full-time in the Singapore Armed Forces. But both were gifted to me not long after I entered National Service in 1988. With a government scholarship, my future seemed determined.

As Singaporeans, we have certain principles ingrained in us from our schooldays, thanks to National Education—“No one owes us a living”, “We must uphold  meritocracy and incorruptibility” and “We must preserve racial and religious harmony”.

I come from a church named after the famous place of John Wesley’s heartwarming encounter—Aldersgate Methodist Church. The pandemic was a unique opportunity for us young people to examine our hearts in the way that Paul urged the Corinthian believers (2 Corinthians 13:5). Without any opportunity for our parents to nag us to go to […]

Methodist Girls’ School celebrates her 135th anniversary this year. Commemorating Founder’s Day on 25 July, the school gives glory to God for his abundant love, grace and faithfulness over the years, which...

Ruth Lim studied Game Development and Computing Science and works as an Esports Coach at SOOS OIO. A competitive gamer, she has won many titles and represented Singapore in gaming tournaments. She attends Cornerstone Community Church.

Kids game, while parents frown. There is a gap between these diametric responses of parent and child to gaming. Our end objective in mitigating this gap is not to swing to one or the other side but to meet in the gap, where the focus is no longer on games but on each other. “And […]

Paul Khoo, 45, is a familiar figure in Christian fathering circles. He is one of many key volunteers with Elijah7000, a movement that takes inspiration from Malachi 4:5-6 and seeks to “turn the hearts of all fathers towards their children”. As the co-founder of a media company, Raison Media, his work has also led him […]

Have you ever seen a pangolin in the wild? The two times I encountered a pangolin in the wild, I was certainly in wonder. Now, the pangolin is a shy nocturnal animal rarely encountered outside of forest reserves, so to see one in our urban setting was quite unexpected. On the first occasion it ran […]

Have you ever finished meal preparation and found yourself with a pile of fruit and vegetable peels that cannot be consumed? For many of us, this kitchen waste goes straight into the bin. Amelia Hang, 36, who attends Cairnhill Methodist Church, found a way to turn this waste into something useful. She turned to composting, […]